Some things never change, especially if they're cast in bronze.
We're going to take a look at the people frozen in time today in yet another round up. Here, I even made a Google map.
Starting in Cumming, the "Egg Man" - a poultry farmer carrying a basket of eggs - walks side by side with a little girl, carrying a baby chick. The farmer looks behind him, while the child looks to the future. Nearby, Lady Justice, blindfolded, stands peacefully in front of the Forsyth County Courthouse. Also in Forsyth County, Governor John Forsyth keeps an eye on his namesake county and Hiram Parks Bell stands in front of the Cumming City Hall.
Toccoa is proud of their strongest resident, Paul Anderson, who set world records of strength before his death in 1994. Anderson was an Olympic Gold Medalist in the 1956 Olympics and set an unofficial record when he lifted over 6,000 pounds on his back. In 2008, the city put up a statue of Anderson, lifting a bar high above his head. We'll talk more about this local legend in a future post!
While not known for their gold like Dahlonega is, Cleveland was home to the largest gold nugget east of the Mississippi. To commemorate that event, a bronze Gold Miner was installed in 2013 at the Historic White County Courthouse Museum. Annette Adams of Cleveland donated the statue in memory of her late husband, Gene.
Brenau University's Gainesville campus is home to many, many bronze statues, including what I call "the Women of Brenau" on the front lawn, featuring two students 100 years apart, and two students coming and going. There's also Harriet Tubman and Child by Jane DeDecker near the library and Lucile the Golden Tiger, greeting everyone at the edge of Brenau's campus near Green Street.
At the History Center on Brenau's campus, a circle of bronze children frolic in The Circle of Freedom by Gary Lee Price. An open space between two children invites visitors to complete the circle in the center's Freedom Garden.
Moving just a few miles ahead of campus, the Gainesville Square features pieces like a bust of George Washington, and my personal favorite, Old Joe, a confederate soldier who keeps his watchful eye over the Gainesville Square.
Just outside of the downtown square is Poultry Park, hailing Gainesville as the Poultry Capital of the World with a life-sized chicken on top of an obelisk. Across the street, the Arts Council boasts a cast of Mountain Man by Fredric Remington.
On Murphy Boulevard, the memorial bronzes of Cole Miller and Jenny Kern are on display at Challenged Child and Friends.
Lastly, in that same neck of the woods is Memorial Park Cemetery. The cemetery full of artwork to gaze on, including almost 50 bronze animals in a spot known as Noah's Ark. Animals range from monkeys, to camels, to giraffes.
There are a handful of war memorials featuring bronze scattered around the region as well, in Blairsville, Cumming and Blue Ridge.
A good bit of these bronzes are thanks to one man: Gregory Johnson of Cumming. In Part 2, we'll talk to Johnson about his works scattered around North Georgia. But for now, enjoy a little teaser and listen to Johnson talk about some of his works above. Just hit play!
Until next week,
Stay curious.
Did I miss any bronze statues in your area? Shoot me an email here and let me know!
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/7/419389/bronze-statues-part-1